Knock down building material elevator



Oct 4, 1966 R. SLAIS 3 6 KNOCK DOWN BUILDING MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l .6 "W n w "W 51M. l i i I,

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KNOCK DOWN BUILDING MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR.

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Fatented Oct. 4, 1966 3,276,546 KNOCK DOWN BUILDING MATERIAL ELEVATOR Raymond Slais, 1188 Roswell, Topeka, Kans. Filed Sept. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 397,690 4 Claims. (Cl. 187-2) This invention relates to elevators and more particularly to an improved builders hoist adapted to be supported by conventional scaffolding for raising building materials and the like to a working level.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide an improved platform elevator which does not require a separate self-supporting tower; to provide such a device which includes a single sectional trackway column permitting great ease in initial assembly, subsequent height increase, and eventual disassembly; to provide such apparatus which conveniently clamps to conventional scaffolding supports and the like for stability; to provide a platform hoist which is small and compact and requires a minimum length of hoisting cable; to provide such an apparatus which is easily operated by a single workman at the construction level and does not require elaborate controls remote from the driving motor; to provide such a materials elevator which is self braking at the cable reel during normal operation; to provide such an apparatus which includes a simple, reliable automatic emergency brake to prevent a free-fall of the platform in case of cable failure; and to provide such an apparatus which is simple and inexpensive in construction and reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an elevator embodying this invention shown clamped to a vertical column of a building scaffold.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the elevator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the elevator on a slightly enlarged scale illustrating details of construction and assembly.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlarged scale showing the carriage movably engaged with the sectional column with portions broken away to illustrate contacting rollers and an emergency brake device.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view on an enlarged scale showing further details of the carriage.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an enlarged scale showing further details of the emergency brake device.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates an elevator or platform building hoist embodying this invention. The elevator 1 includes a sectional column 2 having illustrative multiple sections designated 3, 4 and 5. The sections 3, 4 and 5 are respectively hollow elongated structural members preferably rectangular or square in cross section as best illustarted in FIG. 3. The lowermost section 3 is of relatively short length and in use preferably rests upon a suitable support, in the illustrated example a block of wood 6 for distributing downward force over a substantial support area. The sections 4 and 5 located above the lowermost section 3 each have an abruptly smaller width depending portion 7 which is telescopically received into the upper end of the next preceding section to produce exterior trackway surfaces which are substantially uninterrupted between the assembled sections.

Each of the sections in the sectional column 2 include at least one vertically deposed ear 8 welded thereto and projecting rearwardly thereof. The ears 8 are of lesser width than the lateral width of the column 2 and are centered so as to allow uninterrupted trackways 9 and 10 on the rear surface 11 of the column 2. Each of the ears 8 terminate in a half-round pipe clamp portion 12 which includes laterally projecting bored flanges 13 and 14. The pipe clamp portion 12 is adapted to engage a vertical column 15 of a conventional sectional scaffolding 16 used in building construction. A matching clamp portion 17 is adapted to engage the column 15 opposed to each of the clamp portions 13. Suitable bolts 18 are extended through the portions 12 and 17 and engaged with nuts 19 for securely clamping the respective column sections in vertical alignment near the scaffold column 15.

A winch assembly 20 includes a relatively short column section 21 having a rigid platform 22 secured at the upper end thereof and a depending portion 23 at the lower end thereof for telescopic insertion into the preceding column section, in the illustrated example, section 5. The column section 21 has an ear 23 welded thereto which is similar to the ear 8 described above and is: used in the same manner to securely support the winch assembly 20 in vertical alignment with the sectional column 2. A reversible electric motor 24 is mounted on the platform 22 and is controlled by a suitable finger operated switch 25 receiving power from an electric extension cord 26. The motor 24 has an output pulley 27 secured to the shaft thereof, which pulley is engaged with a power transmission belt 28 in turn engaged with a pulley 29.

A gear reducer 30 is secured to the column section 21 and has an input shaft 31 to which the pulley 29 is fixed. The gear reducer 30 is of the type having a worm 30 producing a high input to output ratio whereby the reducer is self locking through internal friction. The output shaft 32 of the gear reducer 30 drives a cable spool 33 having a cable 34 spiraled thereon and depending therefrom for lifting the elevator platform 35 now described.

The elevator platform 35 includes a framework 36 comprising two cantilever supported arms 37 and 38 joining at a bifurcated bracket 39. The bracket 39 has spaced apart ears 40 received into oppositely directed open-faced slots 41 and 42 formed in a carriage 43. The ears 40 are suitably secured in the slots 41 and 42, preferably by welding so that the carriage 43 and arms 37 and 38 are a substantially unitary structure. A platform board 44 is suitably secured to the arms 37 and 38 and presents a horizontal surface upon which materials (not shown) may be lifted or lowered during elevator opera tion.

The carriage 43-includes a lower roller 45 journaled therein and contacting the front vertical trackway or surface 46 of the sectional column 2. A pair of spaced apart upper rear rollers 47 and 48 are journaled 0n the carriage 43 for respective rolling contact against trackways 9 and 10 on the column rear surface 11. The space 49 between the rollers 47 and 48 permits the carriage to freely ascend and descend past the column ears 8 without interference. A pair of upper lateral rollers 50 and a pair of lower lateral rollers 51 are also journaled in spaced apart opposed relation on the carriage 43 for rolling contact with the column side surfaces 52.

The cable 34 terminates at the lower end thereof in a connector 53 secured by a bolt 54 to a normally upstanding lug. 55. The lug 55 is rigidly secured to a cylindrical member 56 rotatably mounted between spaced apart ears 57 and 58 forming portions of the carriage 43 on a shaft 59. The shaft 59 extends through the cylindrical member 56 on an eccentric axis whereby when the lug 55 is vertical the exterior knurled surface 60 of the member 56 is spaced forwardly of the column front vertical surface 46. When, however, the lug 55 and member 56 are rotated clockwise from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 the surface 60 is forced into contact with the column front vertical surface 46 to brake the carriage and platform. Helical springs 61 and 62 surround the shaft 59 on opposite sides of the cylindrical member 56 and engage the ears 57 and 58 and the lug 55 to resiliently urge the rotation of the member 56 into engaging contact with the surface 46. So long as the cable 34 exerts vertical tension on the lug 55 the cylindrical member 56 is unable to rotate and the carriage 43 is free to move vertically along the sectional column 2. A break or release of the cable 34 however, will produce the braking noted above. One the knurled surface 60 contacts the column, the weight of the carriage and platform will aid in rotating the member 56 into high pressure braking contact.

During normal operation of the elevator the weight of the platform 35 and the material resting thereon produces a force couple resisted primarily by the upper rear rollers 47 and 48 and the lower front roller 45. The pairs 50 and 51 of lateral rollers act primarily as stabilizers to prevent lateral tipping of the platform and produce smooth rolling contact of the carriage 43 against the column 2.

In erecting the elevator the lower section 3 is first clamped to the selected scaffold column 15 and the lower end suitably supported as by the wooden block 6. The carriage 43 may then be telescoped over the lower sections 3 and left to rest on the block 6 while the remaining sections of the column 2 are assembled. The remaining sections are then assembled in succeeding fashion by telescoping the depending portions 7 into the preceding section upper ends and securely clamping the sections to the scaffold column 15 to form a vertical column. When the desired height has been achieved the winch assembly 20 is engaged into the upper end of the uppermost column section, clamped to the scaffold column 15, and the cable played out and connected to the lug 55. The elevator may be conveniently operated by a workman standing on the scaffold platform 63 simply by manipulating the switch 25.

When it becomes necessary to increase the height of the scaffold platform 63 the operational height of the elevator may be conveniently correspondingly increased by unclamping the winch assembly 20 while permitting the carriage 43 to rest on the ground, withdrawing the winch assembly, inserting an additional column section, reengaging the winch assembly with the top of the new column section, and clamping the winch assembly in place. Suflicient cable 34 may be played out before removing the winch assembly 20 so that the increase in height may be achieved without being concerned with the downward pull of the elevator platform 35 and carriage 43. The disassembly of the elevator column is merely a reversal of the assembly procedure described.

Although one form of this invention has been illustrated and described it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elevator apparatus comprising:

(a) a sectional column of comparatively small rectangular cross-section and having a rear surface, a front surface and side surfaces, said column being composed of a plurality of vertically disposed endtelescoping column sections, said sections each having ears secured thereto and projecting rearwardly from said rear surface, said ears terminating in clamping members for securing said sections in vertically aligned end-engaging relationship to adjacent vertical supporting structure,

(b) a carriage having rear upper rollers laterally spaced apart for rolling engagement with said rear 4. surface without interference with said ears, said carriage having a front lower roller for engaging said front surface and spaced below said rear roller, said carriage having lateral stabilizing rollers for engaging said side surfaces to prevent lateral tipping with respect to said column,

(0) a plat-form supporting structure fixed to said carriage between said upper and lower rollers, and projecting forwardly from said front surface, a platform secured to said platform structure and having a horizontal materials supporting surface,

(d) said carriage having a pair of laterally spaced apart forwardly directed ears at the upper portion thereof, a cylindrical member rotatably mounted between said ears on a horizontal eccentric axis, and having a braking cylindrical surface, said axis being positioned whereby said braking surface engages said forward surface only upon rotation of said cylindrical member out of a normal position, a lug secured to and extending radially from said cylindrical member, said lug extending upright when said cylindrical member is in said normal position, spring members engaging said ears and said cylindrical member for resiliently urging said cylindrical member out of said normal position,

(e) a winch assembly including a column section having a depending portion telescopically receivable in the upper end of the next preceding column section, said winch assembly including an ear secured thereto and extending rearwardly thereof and terminating in a clamping member for securing to said adjacent vertical supporting structure, said winch assembly including a self braking gear reducer having an input and an output shaft, a cable reel on said output shaft, a support member at the upper end of said Winch assembly, a reversible motor secured to said support member and operably connected to said input shaft for rotating said reel,

(f) a cable wound on said reel and having a free end terminating in a connector secured to said lug, the weight of said carriage and platform normally exerting sufficient tension on said cable for maintaining said cylindrical member in said normal position whereby said cylindrical member is disengaged from said front surface, and means for selectively applying electric power to said motor for raising and lowering said platform.

2. An elevator apparatus comprising:

(a) a sectional column of comparatively small crosssection and having a rear surface, a front surface and side surfaces, said colutmn being composed of a plurality of vertically disposed end-telescoping column sections, said sections each having ears secured thereto and projecting rearwardly from said rear surface, said ears terminating in members for securing said sections in vertically aligned end-engaging relationship to adjacent vertical supporting structure,

(b) a carriage having rear upper rollers laterally spaced apart for rolling engagement with said rear surface without interference with said ears, said carriage having a front lower roller for engaging said front surface and spaced below said rear rollers, said carriage having lateral stabilizing rollers for engaging said side surfaces to prevent lateral tipping with respect to said colutmn,

(c) a platform supporting structure fixed to said carriage between said upper and lower rollers and projecting forwardly from said front surface,

(d) a platform secured to said platform structure and having a horizontal materials supporting surface, (e) a winch assembly including a column section having a depending portion telescopically receivable in the upper end of the next preceding column section, said winch assembly including an ear secured thereto and extending rearwardly thereof and terminating in a clamping member for securing to said adjacent vertical supporting structure,

(f) said winch assembly including a self braking gear reducer having an input and an output shaft, a cable reel on said output shaft,

( g) a support member at the upper end of said winch assembly,

(h) a reversible motor secured to said support member and operably connected to said input shaft for rotating said reel,

(i) a cable wound on said reel and having a free end terminating in a connector secured to said carriage,

(j) and means for selectively applying electric power to said motor for raising and lowering said platform.

3. An elevator apparatus comprising:

(a) a sectional column of comparatively small crosssection and having a rear surface, a front surface and side surfaces, said column being composed of a plurality of vertically disposed endtelescoping column sections, said sections each having ears secured thereto and projecting rearwardly from said rear surface, said ears terminating in clamping members for securing said sections in vertically aligned endengaging relationship to adjacent vertical supporting structure,

(b) a carriage having rear upper rollers laterally spaced apart for rolling engagement with said rear surface without interference with said ears, said carriage having a front lower roller for engaging said front surface and spaced below said rear rollers, said carriage having lateral stabilizing rollers for engaging said side surfaces to prevent lateral tipping with respect to said column,

() a platform supporting structure fixed to said carriage between said upper and lower rollers and projecting forwardly from said front surface,

(d) a platform secured to said platform structure and having a horizontal materials supporting surface,

(c) said carriage having a pair of laterally spaced apart forwardly directed ears at the upper portion thereof,

(f) a cylidnrical member rotatably mounted between said ears on a horizontal eccentric axis and having a braking cylindrical surface, said axis being positioned whereby said braking surface engages said (forward surface only upon rotation of said cylindrical member out of a normal position,

(-g) a lug secured to and extending radially from said cylindrical member, said lug extending upright when said cylindrical member is in said normal position,

(h) spring members engaging said ears and said cylindrical member for resiliently urging said cylindrical member out of said normal position,

(i) a (winch assembly including a portion removably mounted on the uppermost column section, said winch assembly including a self braking gear reducer having an input and an output shaft, a cable reel on said output shaft, a support member at the upper end of said winch assembly,

(j) a reversible motor secured to said support member and operably connected to said input shaft for rotating said reel,

(k) a cable wound on said reel and having a free end terminating in a connector secured to said lug, the weight of said carriage and platform normally exerting sufiicient tension on said cable for maintaining said cylindrical member in said normal position whereby said cylindrical member is disengaged from said front surface, (1) and means for selectively applying electric power to said motor for raising and lowering said platform. 4. An elevator apparatus adapted to be connected to a scaffolding having elongate vertical columns comprising:

(a) a sectional column of comparatively small crosssection and having a rear surface, a front surface and side surfaces, said column being composed of la plurality of vertically disposed end-telescoping column sections, said sections each having an ear secured thereto and projecting rearwardly from said rear surface in spaced relation to said side surfaces with the rear surface adjacent said side surfaces providing uninterrupted trackways, said ears terminating in clamping members spaced from the column sections for securing said respective sections in vertically aligned end-engaging relationship to an adjacent vertical scaffolding column,

(b) a carriage having rear upper rollers laterally spaced apart for rolling engagement with said rear surface trackways, said carriage having a front lower roller for engaging said front surface, said front roller being spaced below said rear rollers, said carriage having lateral stabilizing rollers for engaging said side surfaces to prevent lateral tipping with respect to said column,

(c) a platform supporting structure fixed to said carriage between said upper and lower rollers and projecting forwardly from said front surface,

((1) a platform secured to said platform structure and having a horizontal materials supporting surface, (e) a winch assembly including a column section having a depending portion telescopically receivable in the upper end of the next preceding column section, said winch assembly including a self braking gear reducer having an input and an output shaft, a cable reel on said shaft, a support member at the upper end of said winch assembly,

(f) a reversible motor secured to said support member and operably connected to said input shaft for rotating said reel,

(g) a cable Wound on said reel and having a free end terminating in a connector secured to said carriage for raising and lowering said carriage and platform,

(h) a braking means on said carriage and engageable with said sectional column and normally held in disengaged position by tension on said cable in response to normal weight of said carriage and platform,

(i) and means for selectively applying electric power to said motor for raising and lowering said platform.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 598,294 2/1898 Robbins 187-8 1,108,355 8/1914 Friman 187-87 1,834,652 12/1931 Schmid 187-2 1,981,306 11/1934 Bucknall 187-87 2,236,019 3/1941 Thompson 187-6 3,088,545 5/1963 Meyer 187-2 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner, 

1. AN ELEVATOR APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A SECTIONAL COLUMN OF COMPARATIVELY SMALL RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION AND HAVING A REAR SURFACE, A FRONT SURFACE AND SIDE SURFACES, SAID COLUMN BEING COMPOSED OF A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED ENDTELESCOPING COLUMN SECTIONS, SAID SECTIONS EACH HAVING EARS SECURED THERETO AND PROJECTING REARWARDLY FROM SAID REAR SURFACE, SAID EARS TERMINATING IN CLAMPING MEMBERS FOR SECURING SAID SECTIONS IN VERTICALLY ALIGNED END-ENGAGING RELATIONSHIP TO ADJACENT VERTICAL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, (B) A CARRIAGE HAVING REAR UPPER ROLLERS LATERALLY SPACED APART FOR ROLLING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID REAR SURFACE WITHOUT INTERFERENCE WITH SAID EARS, SAID CARRIAGE HAVING A FRONT LOWER ROLLER FOR ENGAGING SAID FRONT SURFACE AND SPACED BELOW SAID REAR ROLLER, SAID CARRIAGE HAVING LATERAL STABILIZING ROLLERS FOR ENGAGING SAID SIDE SURFACES TO PREVENT LATERAL TIPPING WITH RESPECT TO SAID COLUMN, (C) A PLATFORM SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FIXED TO SAID CARRIAGE BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER ROLLERS, AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT SURFACE, A PLATFORM SECURED TO SAID PLATFORM STRUCTURE AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL MATERIALS SUPPORTING SURFACE, (D) SAID CARRIAGE HAVING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED APART FORWARDLY DIRECTED EARS AT THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID EARS ON A HORIZONTAL ECCENTRIC AXIS, AND HAVING A BRAKING CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, SAID AXIS BEING POSITIONED WHEREBY SAID BRAKING SURFACE ENGAGES SAID FORWARD SURFACE ONLY UPON ROTATION OF SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER OUT OF A NORMAL POSITION, A LUG SECURED TO AND EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM SAID CYINDRICAL MEMBER, SAID LUG EXTENDING UPRIGHT WHEN SAID CYINDRICAL MEMBER IS IN SAID NORMAL POSITION, SPRING MEMBERS ENGAGING SAID EARS AND SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER FOR RESILIENTLY URGING SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER OUT OF SAID NORMAL POSITION, (E) A WINCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A COLUMN SECTION HAVING A DEPENDING PORTION TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVABLE IN THE UPPER END OF THE NEXT PRECEDING COLUMN SECTION, SAID WINCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN EAR SECURED THERETO AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREOF AND TERMINATING IN A CLAMPING MEMBER FOR SECURING TO SAID ADJACENT VERTIAL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, SAID WINCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A SELF BRAKING GEAR REDUCER HAVING AN INPUT AND AN OUTPUT SHAFT, A CABLE REEL ON SAID OUTPUT SHAFT, A SUPPORT MEMBER AT THE UPER END OF SAID WINCH ASSEMBLY A REVERSIBLE MOTOR SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID INPUT SHAFT FOR ROTATING SAID REEL, (F) A CABLE WOUND ON SAID REEL AND HAVING A FREE END TERMINATING IN A CONNECTOR SECURED TO SAID LUG, THE WEIGHT OF SAID CARRIAGE AND PLATFORM NORMALLY EXERTING SUFFICIENT TENSION ON SAID CABLE FOR MAINTAINING SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER IN SAID NORMAL POSITION WHEREBY SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER IS DISENGAGED FROM SAID FRONT SU RFACE, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY APPLYING ELECTRICAL POWER TO SAID MOTOR FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID PLATFORM. 